News and Analysis (2/25/09)

The proposed 19 month withdrawal leaves a “residual force” of up to 50,000 soldiers behind:

• Compromise on Iraq Withdrawal Timeline Appears Near (LA Times)

The Syrian “court” lacks basic elements of a fair trial like unfettered access to counsel, a systematic examination of evidence, and investigations into confession by torture:

• Rights Group Urges Syria To Eliminate Special Court (Washington Post)

The lawyers for the Sharif brothers claim Mr. Zardari controls the Supreme Court and the decision was “ordered”:

• Pakistani Court Bars Former Leader From Office (NY Times)

A resounding victory for women’s rights in the Arab world:

• 2 Palestinian Women Become Judges in Islamic Court (AP / Washington Post)

“Protesters say they fear that the government will use the presence of war graves on campuses as a pretext for official suppression of demonstrations, political or otherwise “:

• Student Protesters Arrested In Iran (Washington Post)

Technically, censorship laws make viewing this film illegal in Lebanon:

• Israel’s ‘Waltz with Bashir’ Misses an Oscar, but Scores in Lebanon (Christian Science Monitor)

Imran

Minaret of Freedom Institute Program Assistant